Rotary impact sprinkler having control means for increasing the force of impact



March 25, 1969 J. A. ROYER 3,434,665

ROTARY IMPACT SPRINKLER HAVING CONTROL MEANS FOR INCREASING THE FORCE OF IMPACT Filed Jan. 16, 1967 JOHN A. ROVER INVENTOR X4440 fM ATTOPNEKS United States Patent ROTARY IMPACT SPRINKLER HAVING CONTROL MEANS FOR INCREASING THE FCRCE 01F IMPACT John A. Royer, Fresno, Califi, assignor to Buckner Industries, Inc., a corporation of California Filed Jan. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 609,599 Int. Cl. Bb 3/08, 15/04 US. Cl. 239--230 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to an improved rotary impact driven sprinkler and more particularly to such a sprinkler having a spray nozzle and a drive lever actuated by spray from the nozzle which prevents the spray from inadvertently impeding operation of the drive lever and which shields the spray nozzle from becoming clogged with extraneous material 'when the sprinkler is not in use.

For illustrative convenience, the device of this invention is herein shown and described in connection with a standard rotary impact driven sprinkler. However, it is recognized that the invention is operable on other types of sprinklers, such as oscillating sprinklers, nutating sprinklers and the like.

In rotary impact driven sprinklers there has been a problem in maintaining the desired impacting force of the drive lever against its anvil to cause the most advantageous incremental rotation of the sprinkler. Until now, it has been impossible to prevent nozzle spray from striking the drive lever rotation vane in the instant immediately before impact thus undesirably diminishing the impacting force and consequently interfering with the proper operation of the sprinkler.

Furthermore, in certain areas of the world, insects frequently fill the orifices of the spray nozzles with mud, debris, eggs, or other extraneous material which obstructs the orifices and renders the sprinklers inoperative.

Therefore, itis the object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary impact driven sprinkler.

Another object is to provide a rotary impact driven sprinkler which prevents nozzle spray from interfering with the proper operation of the drive lever thereof.

Another object is to provide a rotary impact driven sprinkler which permits engagement of nozzle spray with one portion of the drive lever to increase its momentum toward impact and prevents engagement of nozzle spray with another portion of the drive lever until after impact for moving the drive lever away from impact.

Another object is to provide a rotary impact driven sprinkler which automatically shields the spray nozzle from becoming clogged when the sprinkler is not in operation.

Another object is to provide a rotary impact driven sprinkler 'which operates automatically to maintain itself in proper working order.

Another object is to provide a rotary impact driven sprinkler which is of sturdy relatively inexpensive construction.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes set forth which is fully effective in achieving its intended purposes.

These, together with other objects and advantages of the present invention, will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description in the specification and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a sprinkler embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of opposite limits of movement of a in dashed and in full lines.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line 3--3-' of FIG. 2 showing the relative positions of the rocker member and the spray nozzle, indicated in dashed lines.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the drive lever and spray nozzle and illustrating the spray striking the augmentation vane prior to impact of the drive lever against its anvil.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the drive lever and spray nozzle of the present invention showing the rocker member in its position preventing the spray from striking the return vane just before impact of the drive lever against its anvil.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the drive lever and spray nozzle of the present invention showing the spray striking the rotation vane after impact and after the rocker member has been rotated out of the path of the spray.

FIG. 7 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of the rocker member of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, an improved rotary impact driven sprinkler embodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicated by numeral 10. The sprinkler includes a body 11 having an upper end 12 and a lower end 13. The body is mounted for rotation in a screw-threaded mounting portion 14 which at its lower end is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure not shown. The body further provides a laterally and upwardly disposed nozzle mount 15 having a spray nozzle 16 at the upwardly extended end thereof which is inclined to achieve desired spray trajectory. The spray nozzle has an orifice 17 therethrough A fluid passageway 18 runs longitudinally through the body bending at the upper end of the body to communicate with the orifice of the spray nozzle through the nozzle mount. The passageway communicates with the exterior of the device at the lower end of the body through an opening 19 in the mounting portion through which fluid under pressure is received during operation.

A shaft 25 is mounted on and extends vertically from the upper end 12 of the body 11 in alignment with the axis of rotation of mounting portion 14 of the body. An impact bar or anvil 26 extends upwardly from the nozzle mount 15 substantially parallel to the shaft. A mounting arm 27 extends horizontally from the upper end of the anvil and is connected to the shaft.

A drive lever assembly 28 is mounted on the shaft 25, as best shown in FIG. 2. The drive lever assembly includes a drive lever 29 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft and has a drive member 30 at one end thereof which extends in front of and in alignment with the spray nozzle 16 when the lever is at rest. The drive lever has a weight arm 31 at the end thereof opposite to the drive member. The drive lever assembly further includes a helical spring 32 which is coiled about the shaft between the drive lever the sprinkler showing rocker member thereof and the mounting arm 27. The spring is connected at one end to the mounting arm and at the other end to the drive lever, as shown in FIG. 2, and is pre-stressed so that it tends to retain the drive lever in the position shown in FIG. 1 resting against the anvil 26 with the drive member in front of the spray nozzle.

The drive member 30 has a rotation or drive vane 39 which is remote from the spray nozzle 16. The drive member also has an augmentation vane 40 which is between the spray nozzle and rotation vane, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6. The rotation vane and the augmentation vane of the drive member are normally held by the tension spring 32 in front of the spray nozzle. However, when spray 41 is discharged from the spray nozzle, the rotation vane and augmentation vane deflect the spray at predetermined times to cause and to augment movement of the drive lever, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, resulting in its impacting against the anvil 26. Successive impactings result in incremental rotation of the body portion.

A rocker assembly 42 is provided on the drive lever 29 adjacent to the spray nozzle 16. The rocker assembly includes a pin 43 which is horizontally mounted in and transversely of the drive lever. The pin extends laterally a short distance from both sides of the drive lever. The rocker assembly further includes a control or rocker member 44 having a stop bar 45 extended transversely of the drive lever. The stop bar has an integral arcuately curved rocker arm 50 extending from it in a plane normal to it. The rocker arm defines a discharge passage 51. A flange 52 also extends integrally from the stop bar a predetermined distance from and parallel to the rocker arm. A pair of aligned bores 53 are individually provided in the rocker arm and the flange and define an axis substantially parallel to the stop bar. The rocker member is rotatably mounted on the drive lever with the rotation pin extending through its bores. The rocker member is mounted so that when at rest the arm extends downwardly on the left side of the drive lever, as shown in FIG. 3, The rocker member is held in this position by gravity with the stop bar resting on the drive lever, but is pivotal on the pin to the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2. A baffle plate 54 extends integrally from the rocker arm in front of the spraying orifice, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, when rocker arm is in its lowered or rest position.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. The sprinkler is mounted for use in the conventional manner in an upright position in connection with a source of fiuid under pressure by means of the mounting portion 14. In this arrangement it is disposed substantially, as shown in full lines in FIG. 2. When water under pressure is supplied to the sprinkler, it passes through opening 19, fluid passageway 18, and is discharged as a spray 41 through the orifice 17 of the spray nozzle 16. The spray immediately contacts the baflie plate 54 of the rocker member 44, as shown in FIG. 5. This forces the rocker member to be rotated to the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2 and thus removing the baffle plate from the path of the spray. Consequently, the spray then contacts the rotation vane 39, as shown in FIG. 6, This causes the drive lever 29 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 1, against the force of the spring 32. Simultaneously, the rocker member having been removed from the spray, gravitates to the lowered position of FIG. 2.

When the spring 32 has completely absorbed the momentum supplied to the drive lever 29 by the spray 41, the drive lever begins to move in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, toward impact against the anvil 26 under the influence of the tension spring. Subsequently, the drive member 30 of the drive lever again enters the spray being discharged from the spray nozzle 16 and the spray is deflected off the augmentation vane 40 and out through the discharge opening 51 of the rocker arm 50, as shown in FIG. 4. This, of course, increases the momentum of the drive lever toward impact against the anvil. In conventional sprinklers of this type when the drive lever moves slightly further so that the spray is no longer deflected from the augmentation vane, the spray contacts the rotation vane 39 for a brief interval just before impact. This objectionably diminishes the impact force thus interfering with desired operation of the lever and rotation of the body portion 11. However, with the device of the present invention the baffie plate 54 passes in front of the spray nozzle at the precise brief interval thus preventing the spray from contacting the rotation vane to impede lever movement. The rocker member is subjected to the lifting effect of the spray and is immediately rotated out of the trajectory thereof, but sufiicient time passes while it is in interfering relation to the spray to permit impact of the lever against the anvil without the spray interfering. Thus the desired impact caused rotation of the sprinkler body is achieved. Thence, the spray again contacts the rotation vane, as shown in FIG, 6 thus beginning a new cycle. Obviously, during this described operation, the sprinkler is performing its primary function of sprinkling.

When the sprinkler It} is not in use, the baflle plate 54 remains immediately in front of the orifice 17 of the spray nozzle 16 thus preventing extraneous material from being deposited in the orifice thereof by insects or other means.

Thus the device of the present invention provides a rocker member which permits a rotary impact driven sprinkler to be rotated automatically in precisely uniform and dependable increments and which covers the spray nozzle when the sprinkler is not in use in order to prevent the orifice from becoming clogged. Furthermore, the rocker member is of sturdy yet inexpensive construction thus making it acceptable for widespread use.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sprinkler comprising a rotatable body portion adapted to discharge fluid therefrom, a drive lever actuated by the fluid discharge adapted to impact against said body portion to drive the same, said lever having a portion engaged by the fluid discharge to drive the lever to impact against the body portion, and a control member in operable association with the body portion reciprocally movable between a position shielding the drive lever from the fluid discharge and a retracted position after engagement of the lever portion by the fluid discharge.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the body portion further provides a spray nozzle and said control member covers the spray nozzle when fluid is not being discharged therefrom to shield the same from external debris, and said control member is non-aligned with the lever portion.

3. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein the control member is pivotally mounted on the drive lever.

4. A rotary impact driven sprinkler comprising a rotatable body having a spray nozzle which is adapted to discharge fluid therefrom, a drive lever pivotally mounted on the body and adapted to be pivoted by fluid discharged from the spray nozzle to cause incremental rotation of the body upon impacting against the body, said lever having a first portion and a second portion aligned with fluid discharged from the nozzle during pivoting of the lever, impingement of fiuid upon said first portion serving to pivot the lever in one direction away from the body, means for pivoting the lever in the opposite direction toward impacting against the body, impingement of fluid upon said second portion during pivoting of the lever in the opposite direction serving to speed such pivoting, and a fluid control member adapted to shield said first portion of the lever from the fluid discharge during pivoting of the lever in said opposite direction toinsure precise incremental rotation of the body.

5. The sprinkler of claim 4 wherein the fluid control member is movably mounted on the drive lever and moves between a first position in which it is in alignment with the first portion but out of alignment with the second portion and a second position in which it is also out of alignment with the first portion,

6. The sprinkler of claim 4 wherein said first portion of the drive lever includes a drive vane, and said fluid control member is rotatably mounted on the drive lever and acts to block fluid from contacting said vane before impact of the drive lever against the body.

7. The sprinkler of claim 6 wherein the control member is rotated out of the way by the fluid discharged from the spray nozzle after impact of the drive lever against the body to permit the fluid to contact the vane and thus start the drive lever on a new pivotal cycle.

8. In a sprinkler comprising a body providing a rotatable portion having a spray nozzle, a drive lever pivotally mounted on the body for movement between an impact position against the rotatable portion at a point eccentrically of the axis of rotation thereof and a retracted position pivoted therefrom, said lever having a drive vane disposed in alignment with the nozzle when the lever is adjacent and against the body whereby spray from the nozzle strikes the drive vane and pivots the lever to retracted position, and resilient means connected to the lever for storing energy as the lever pivots to retracted position to return the lever to impact position against the rotatable portion to drive the same, said lever also having an augmentation vane disposed in alignment with the nozzle just prior to impact of the lever whereby spray from the nozzle strikes the augmentation vane for speeding the return of the lever to impact position; means carried by said lever operably related to the vanes so that during return of the lever spray from the nozzle strikes the augmentation vane for speeding the return of the lever but does not strike the drive vane until after impact of the lever.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which said means comprises a rocker member having a baflie pivotally mounted on the lever for movement between a first position with the baifle disposed in alignment between the nozzle and the drive vane when the lever is adjacent to the rotatable portion of the body momentarily to shield the drive vane from spray from the nozzle and a retracted position to which it is urged by impingement of spray from the nozzle thereagainst, and means urging the rocker member into said first position.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which the rocker member is rotated about a substantially horizontal axis transversely of the lever for elevational pivotal movement, the rocker member has a stop engageable with the lever to limit downward pivotal movement of the rocker member to said first position, and impingement of spray against the baflie raises the rocker member to retracted position whereby the rocker member is gravitationally urged into said first position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,204,874 9/1965 Senninger 239-288 3,315,897 4/1967 Stout 239230 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. H. NATTER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 239-233, 288 

